Two-wheelers to remain exempted from tolls, assures Nitin Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has confirmed that two-wheelers will remain exempt from toll tax on national highways, firmly denying recent media reports claiming they will soon be charged on national highways.

Recently, unverified reports in the media have speculated a possible change in the government policy such that two-wheelers will no longer be exempted from toll taxes.

Nitin Gadkari condemns 'fake news'

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday condemned these ‘misleading’ reports suggesting that the government plans to impose a toll tax on two-wheelers. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the minister clarified in Hindi that, “Some media houses are spreading misleading news about imposing a toll tax on two-wheeler vehicles. No such decision has been proposed.”

📢 महत्वपूर्ण 

कुछ मीडिया हाऊसेस  द्वारा दो-पहिया (Two wheeler) वाहनों पर टोल टैक्स लगाए जाने की भ्रामक खबरें फैलाई जा रही है। ऐसा कोई निर्णय प्रस्तावित नहीं हैं। दो-पहिया वाहन के टोल पर पूरी तरह से छूट जारी रहेगी। बिना सच्चाई जाने भ्रामक खबरें फैलाकर सनसनी निर्माण करना स्वस्थ…

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) June 26, 2025

He further reassured millions of commuters that the exemption from toll charges for two-wheelers will remain as before. “Spreading such unverified and sensational news is not responsible journalism. I strongly condemn it,” Gadkari added.

Echoing Minister Gadkari’s statement, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) also clarified the matter on X. “There are no plans to introduce toll charges for two-wheelers,” the authority stated, confirming that no such proposal is currently under consideration.

#FactCheck: Some sections of the media have reported that the Government of India plans to levy user fees on two-wheelers. #NHAI would like to clarify that no such proposal is under consideration. There are no plans to introduce toll charges for two-wheelers. #FakeNews

— NHAI (@NHAI_Official) June 26, 2025

The government recently announced the launch of a FASTag-based Annual Pass system from August 15 to ease travel and reduce expenses for highway commuters.

The new scheme will offer significant savings, allowing users to access over 200 toll plazas on National Highways for an annual fee of just Rs 3,000, a huge reduction from the current average yearly toll expenditure of Rs 10,000.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari mentioned that the scheme would bring “big relief” to regular travellers, cutting the average toll cost per trip to Rs 15.

This initiative is expected to save frequent highway users up to Rs 7,000 annually, while also reducing the need to stop at toll booths, allowing smoother traffic flow.

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